Flushing tank



Patented Feb.l 21, 192,8.

UNITEDSTATES JOHN'K. Non'rnnonor SAWTELLE, CALIFORNIA.

FLUSHING TANK.

Application filed` April 25, 1925. vSerial No. 25,918.

My invention relates to a flushing tank and particularlyytoy an automatically operated tank adapted for use in'flushing sewers.

An object of the invention isto provide aflushing tank of` such extreme simplicity of structure and operationthat it does not require lubrication or servicing.

A. further object of the invention is the production of a flushing tank which may be installed in a manhole of standard construction.

" My iinvention comprises other objects which v'with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of means for practicing the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood thatI do not limit myself tothe showing made by the said description and drawings as I may adoptvariations of my preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1--1 of Fig; 2.

Figure 2 isa side elevation of myk flushing tank and its mountingarranged in aimanhole of standard construction.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showingthe various centers, and the path of movement of the'center of Ygravity as the tank is filled. Y

Broadly, my invention comprises `a drum having a discharge opening in the top of the empty upright drum, and a lip edging oneA side `of the discharge opening to permit the accumulation of an unbalancing load.v The 4drum is mounted for free rotary movement about a horizontally disposed axis which is spaced above the centerv of gravity of the empty upright drum. Means are provided to fill the drum with water and as it approaches full load, `the unbalancing load included within the lip increases vuntil it tips the drum, causing it to roll on its axle, which is seated on va suitable mounting secured in the walls of the manhole. rAs the load discharges thecenter of gravity shifts so thatv the empty drum returns automatically to the ,uprightpositiom where it is again refilled` I will alwaysreturnto upright position. The

and the cycle repeated'indefinitely.

The operation of my flushing tank is not dependent upon valves, gauges or other similar devices so that pebbles, small sticks or other small/objects will not interfere with its perfect operation. The simplicity of the structure practically obviates the necessity of servicing which is a costly item withth types of flushing tanks now inuse. e Y

In detail, my invention comprises a drum 6, preferably cylindrical in shape, and of such size as to accommodate 150 to 200 gals. of water which is the amount required for most flushing purposes. In practicel have found itvdesirable to make the drum in parts so that it can be passed thru the opening andassembled in the larger portion of a standard manhole.y For example, the ends 7 and 8 may be formed in two pieces which may be secured together in anysuitable wellknown manner such as welding or riveting; the side may comprise a single sheet of metal which can be rolled'up topermit it to be placed in a manhole having the usual 22 inch opening. When the drum has been assembled it may be given acoatingof asphaltumA f or similar material to prevent rust and seal the joints so that the danger of leaks will be removed. Y

A discharge openingQ, of less width than the diameter of the drum, is' provided at the top ofthe empty drum; and-edging one side -of this opening is a lip 11 in vwhich anunbalancing load is accumulated, as the tank is filled with water provided by means of soy a suitable inlet 12 controlled and regulated..

by the valve 13. V

A haft or axle 16 extends thru the upright drum, the axis Aofthe shaft preferably lying vertically above the center of gravity and slightly above the horizontal plane passing thru the ygeometric center line of the drum. The shaft is spaced a little toward the lip side of the vertical planev passing s thru the geometric center line of the drum. This oifcenter position compensates for the additional weight of the metal in thelip and causes the empty tank to assume a .position in which the lip side of the discharge opening isslightly higher than the opposite side= A Due to the large amount of metal removed lfrom thetop of the drum to form the discharge opening the center of gravity of the empty upright drum is lowered, and this permits the placing ofv the axle above the` center of gravity so that the empty drum placing of the shaft 16 as just indicated produces the most satisfactory results, but slight variations may be ymade without changing the operation of the'devce. One

oit the most advantageous features of this flushing -taiik is the low cost of production.

and this is partly dependent upon a certain amount of leeway permissible in its construction.. 'i i flanged collar l? fixed to the druiii end, and ,The collar preteiiiiinates iii a journal vents the sides ol the drum troni.contacting .with the sulli'porting beaiii 2l-on each side of the drum. The supporting beams are 'irelfei'ably of I-beam type, and khave each end embedded in the masonry 22 ot the manhole. The journals rollv on these` beams and the rolling movement is limited by the stops 223 and 21lwvliichv are fixed to the beams and spaced apart a distance less than the longitudinal rolling movement of the journals if tree. The spacing of the stops'is suc'hthat the rolling movement of thev drum is `tonverted into a rotary movement about the aXlje When the `journals strike the stops.

' '.lhese'stops further operate to prevent racking of :the-drinn, for' if one journal `strikes a stop betere the other, the momentum of the drum forces the shaftsv back into proper alineinent. The seat 26 'formed by the stops 23 and2l with the journal 18, Yconstitutes a rolling bearing vv'vhi'ch requiresl no lubrication and the'operation of which is not impaired by the presenee 'ot foreign matter,

since the latter is crowded off the seat by the movement of the journals thereon.

The operation of my flushing tank is as follows.v y

'lhedrun'iin upright position is lled With Water from the pipe 12. By referring to Fig.' 3 it will be noted that the center of gravity ot the empty upright drum is indicated by the point marked I. As the drum Y is lilled, the center of .gravity drops in a Y indicate vertical line 25 to the Vpoint indicated by the character-Il. The drum maintains its slightly tilted position until the Water reaches the level at Vthe base of the lip when it gradually lrights itself and remainsin practically upright positionjuiitil the Water is within three or four inches oiz the top of the druin. As the level of the Water rises the cent-er ot gravity rises iii the saine line 25 until the water begins to till the 'lip' ll in' which Vthe unbalancing load acci'unulates. At this point the center of gravity beins to shift gradually toward the lipy until, `when the l iii has full load, the center ot' shifted thru the' line 27.. to the point l'i'ilaiici'ng load'is to Vstart the drum tipping. This slight movement is accelerated vby the tlov'v of the Water to the dis- 'cliarge'side sotl'iat the-drum is rapidly y turned to 'full discharge position. The ytirst movement oit' the 'drum is va rolling move- 'ment in" vvliicli the journals'progress horizontally Yalongtl'ie seat. 26' until the stops 23 gravity d by the character lll, and the unare encountered. The movement then converted iii-toa rotary movement about the shaft lo until the momentum is lost. The water i'lowiuo' trom. the lip provides a heavy upsetting torce i'vhi'ch aids iii maintaining the drinn iii inverted position untilthe entire load has been discharged. 1vVlien d ischai-ging is coiriiplete, the center of gravity shifts back to its original point, and the drum automatically returi'i's` to equilibrium in its upright position.l Because'. ot the triction of the journals turniiigagainst the stops, 'they act asbrake's vat both endsr oit' the movement ot tlie'dru'in' so thatvi'oleiit action and continued rocking of. tliejdrum is prevented. The operation of 'my devicev is 'therefore silent, and is Vnot vaccompanied by sudden shocksgoi'" stresses which vvould damage the structure or cause appreciable deterioration or wear therein.

l'Vlieii the' tank regains its npr-ight! position thi-'e vcycle ol operation has been coinp1 et'ed, and the accumulation of 'the next load begins; It will be obvious that by {adjusti'iient of the valve 13, thetime invvhich the drum lls, and therefore theii'iterv-al between successive actions, vmay be `closely regulated, so that 'the drum; maybe made to discharge its load everyftvvo hours'or every two days, asrequireinent's VmayV dictate. Once set, the operation vcontinues indeinitely and entirely automatically at the desired interval, Without the n'eedo'fany attention.

I claim l. A flushing tank comprising cylin-l drical'drum meun'ted for'rolling and free `rotary movement 'and vvi'thV the cylindrical.

axis in horizontal position, and having fa discharge opening on one 'side above the center of gravity when 'the tank 'is empty, means rfor lillingtlie drum, and means for permitting the accumulation of anainbalancing load as the ldrum approaches `:tall load.

2. A iiushingu tankc'omprising' a cylindrical druin mounted forrolling and free 'rotary vmovement and With the'cylindrical lUU axis' in horizontal passion,- andhaving, a 1

discharge openingen one side above the center of gravity 'when the tank isl empty,

means tor illiiigthe drinn, and the iliseharge opening 'for pei 1li9 'edities ig the accumulation ot an unbalanciiig load as ther drical drum mounted for free rotary movement and with the cylindrical axis in horizontal position, and havinga discharge opening on one side above the center of gravity when the tank is empty, means for filling the drum, means for permitting the accumulation of an unbalancing load as the drum approaches full load, a ,mounting on which said drum rolls as it tips to discharge its load, and stops on said mounting to `con-V trol the rolling movement of the drum.

5. A flushing tank comprising a drum, a supporting beam on each side of the drum, a seat on each beam, and a journal fixed on each side of the drum and adapted to roll transversely on said seat.

6. A flushing tank comprising a drum, a

supporting beam on each side of the drum,'

v journals fixed on the sides of the drum and l7. A flushing tank comprising a freely mounted drum having the center of gravityv below the rotational axis, and'provided With a side lip portion for holding an unbalancing load so that the center of gravity of the full drum is shifted from a point vertically below the rotational axis to a pointv to one side of .said axis.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN i K. NoRTHnoP. 

